Phoenix Suns NBA 2013 Draft Preview: The Bigs

Posted on May 08, 2013

According to the consensus of all the mock drafts I've scoured over the past few months, there are six big men who could possibly be picked in the lottery portion of the coming NBA draft. While the Suns are currently in the 4th lottery position, we won't know for sure what pick they end up with until the lottery balls are drawn on May 21st...So anything is technically possible. Here are the big men candidates that could be considered depending on where the Suns end up.

1. Nerlens Noel: 6'11" 216 lbs, PF/C

Nerlens Noel is without question the most gifted, talented big man in the draft with the highest upside. He would have been the shoe-in for the first pick overall before a scary ACL injury that looked even worse than it ended up being. That said, many teams could still be willing to take a gamble on him and he still may end up being the number one pick. He's an excellent defender who knows how to challenge shots without drawing the foul, and has impeccable timing on his blocks. He's not quite to the level of Anthony Davis, but defensively he is very close. His offense is still very raw, but his elite athleticism (verticle reportedly between 39"-41") and physical tools still give him a leg up in this respect...he just needs to develop a jump shot. He's one of the few game-changers in this year's draft. If he's still available when the Suns end up picking I don't see them passing on him.

2. Anthony Bennett: 6'8", 240 lbs, PF

Other measurables: 20 years old, 7'1" wingspan

Compares to: Paul Millsap/Larry Johnson

Don't let his size (or lack thereof) fool you. Anthony Bennett is every bit as much of a big man as any of his taller compatriots...and then some. Bennett is a powerful, bruising power forward who plays much bigger than his size. He's long, aggressive, and athletic for a big man; and he has some nice footwork in the post. He is also a very good rebounder as well. His biggest drawback is his inconsistency on both ends of the court at times. However, most analysts have him as the second ranked big man in this draft behind Noel, and I tend to agree. He also had rotator cuff surgery on his left shoulder this Wednesday. However this is not expected to impact his draft value.

3. Alex Len: 7'1", 255 lbs, C

Other measurables: 19 years old, 7'5" wingspan

Compares to: Zydrunas Ilgauskas/Jonas Valanciunas

Alex Len is this year's Myers Leonard in my opinion...A physically enticing big man who hasn't shown dominance at the college level, but one who many scouts believe could progress into a cornerstone at the low post for the right NBA team. Alex Len hasgreat size and length, and a sturdy build. Still, he needs to add more strength at the next level as he has already had trouble being out-muscled at times by smaller opponents in college. Len's draft stock took a hit recently with an ankle surgery to correct a stress fracture that will now keep him out for the next four to six months. Prior to that he was a likely top 5-10 pick, but he may slide a bit now due to his injury.

4. Cody Zeller: 6'11.5", 240, PF/C

Other measurables: 20 years old, 6'8" wingspan

Compares to: Lamarcus Aldridge

Zeller is the most offensively skilled big man in the draft by a long shot. His ability to score from anywhere inside the perimeter makes him a tantalizing prospect in the NBA. Another less heralded quality is Zeller's athleticism, which is much more apparent than his brother Tyler Zeller, who was drafted 17th overall last year. His wingspan is short for his height, which is a little concerning...but he didn't seem to struggle with rebounding in college due to it; likely because of his agility and ability to position himself in the correct proximity. Cody Zeller is still developing as a player, but his NBA ready skill set could make him one of the best values in the lottery.

5. Mason Plumlee: 6'11", 245 lbs, PF/C

Other measurables: 23 years old, 6'10" wingspan

Compares to: Andris Biedrins

Mason Plumlee is one of the less talked about big men in the coming draft, and I'm not sure why. He's had a very good college career at Duke, and has shown great ability as a finisher and a rebounder. He is one of the more athletic big men in the draft, and his agility and quickness makes him a good candidate to play the four as well as the five at the next level, though he will have to improve his jumpshot in order to do so. He has improved every year as a Blue Devil, posting his best stats now as a senior with 17pts and 11rebs per game...though his ability was always apparent.

6. Rudy Gobert: 7'2", 235 lbs, C

Other measurables: 20 years old, 7'9" wingspan!

Compares to:Samuel Dalembert

Meet Rudy, the dark horse of the potential big men who could be lottery picks this year. Gobert is a French player who measures in at a huge 7'2" tall, with a record breaking wingspan of 7'9" long! Not only are his measurements impressive, but he is also very athletic and explosive, and runs the floor very well. However, he is still extremely raw offensively and has to add bulk to his frame or he will get pushed around in the NBA. But there's no doubt the potential is definitely there, and he could end up being an absolute steal for a team willing to invest in him for the long term.

Stats last season:

7. Kelly Olynyk: 7'0", 238 lbs, C

Other measurables: 22 years old

Compares to: Luis Scola/Fabricio Oberto

Olynyk was one of the most impressive big men in college this year, and at times almost single-handidly carried the Gonzaga Bulldogs to victory. Olynyk is a very skilled big man with a nice jump shot and some impressive footwork. He is also more athletic than most people seem to think, and is quick and agile for his size as well.

Ultimately, who the Suns select with their first pick of the first round will have as much to do with when they end up picking as it will who they like. There's little question that Noel is the cream of the crop, but he may end up being drafted #1 overall, and if the Suns aren't lucky enough to win the lottery or at least move into the top 3, there's not much chance he'll be available.

However, no matter when the Suns end up in the lottery, If they want to draft a big man with their first pick, there are certainly going to be some pretty good players available. We'll know more about these players once the NBA Draft Combine begins on May 15th. There will certainly be risers and fallers depending on their performances there, but these are some of the names to keep an eye on.